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Lily of the valley
Habit (mature) · H. Zell / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
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Lily of the valley
Convallaria majalis
A low, shade-loving rhizomatous perennial groundcover from Eurasia, grown for its sweetly fragrant, nodding, bell-shaped white flowers in late spring. NC State Extension describes paired basal elliptic leaves 5-10 inches long and arching racemes of small (about 1/3 inch) six-lobed white bells held 6-10 inches tall over the foliage. It is prized for carpeting shady ground and for its perfume, but it is HIGHLY TOXIC in all parts and its dense rhizomes can spread aggressively and choke out other plants — a beautiful but hazardous and potentially invasive groundcover that must be sited with care.
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: narrow (38/100)
Border
Filler
Light
Part shade / Part sun
Water
Consistent moisture
Mature size
6-10" tall · 6" apart
Hardy in zones
3a-7b
brutally cold to cold winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Mild
cool to mild summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
No
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It wants dappled to partial or full shade and moist, high-organic-matter soil (clay, loam, or rich soil that stays moist but tolerates occasional dry or wet spells); it is a cool-climate plant that does not thrive in hot southern zones beyond 7b.
Climate notes
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Marginal
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
✓→⚠
Well-suited today, but likely marginal by 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/lily-of-the-valley
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
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